BEIJING ， July 1 （Xinhuanet ） Following is the full text of an  important speech made by Jiang Zemin， general secretary of the Central  Committee of the Communist Party of China （CPC ）， at a grand gathering  marking the 80th founding anniversary of the CPC at the Great Hall of  the People Sunday.
 Speech at the Meeting Celebrating the 80th Anniversary of the Founding  of the Communist Party of China
 （July 1， 2001 ）
 Jiang Zemin
 Comrades and Friends，
We gather ceremoniously here today to celebrate ， together with the  people of all ethnic groups across the country， the 80th anniversary  of the founding of the Communist Party of China and along with all people  in the world who love peace and pursue progress ， look to the bright  future of the development of China and the world.
 The Communist Party of China had only some 50 members at its birth  80 years ago and what it faced was a calamity-ridden old China. But today， 80 years later， our Party has become a big party
 that has been in power for more than 50 years and has more than 64
 million members and what the Chinese people see is a prosperous socialist  motherland. The tremendous change is a historic miracle in the development  of the Chinese nation.
 Reviewing the course of struggle of the Party and the people in
 last century， we feel infinitely exultant and proud. Looking into  the great journey of the Party and the people ahead in the new century， we are filled with confidence and strength that we are bound to win.
 I. Achievements and basic experience of the Communist Party of China  in the 80-year struggle
 Invariably， the people pioneer their road of advance in the movement  of social contradictions； so do they seek， reveal and develop incessantly  the truth that guides their advance from practice and by comparison in  their historical activities.
 Eighty years ago， amidst the torrential anti-imperialist and anti-feudal  struggle of the people of all ethnic groups of China and in the tempestuous  movement of the proletarian revolution in the world ， the Communist Party  of China was founded. This is the inevitable result of the development  of social contradictions and deepening struggle of the people in the modern  times of China.
 After 1840， the invasion by Western imperialist powers reduced China  to the status of semi-colonial and semi-feudal society and subjected the  Chinese people to twofold repression by imperialism and feudalism. The  national crisis and social crisis were unprecedentedly grave. From the  Opium Wars， through the Movement of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom ， the  1898 Reform Movement and the Yihetuan Movement， the Chinese people carried  out dauntless struggles and numerous people with lofty ideals were trying  to explore strenuously for the road of salvaging the country and the nation.  But all the attempts ended in failure one after another ， although they  helped promote progress in China under given historical conditions. The  1911 Revolution led by Dr. Sun Yat-sen， which overthrew the autocratic  monarchy that had ruled China for several thousand years， was of great  significance in promoting China's social progress. Yes， it did not succeed  in altering the semi-colonial and semi-feudal social nature of China and  the miserable destiny of the Chinese people ， either.
 Facts show that neither the self-improvement movements and reformism， the old peasant wars and the democratic revolution led by the revolutionaries  of the bourgeoisie that did not touch the foundation of feudalism nor  other solutions that ape western capitalism can accomplish the national  mission of saving the nation from subjugation and ensuring its survival  and the historical tasks against imperialism and feudalism. China was  then looking forward to a new social force that could find advanced theories  leading to a path of salvaging the country and the nation.
 It was exactly at that time ， in 1917 and 1919 ， two major events  took place in Russia and China， that is， the October Revolution of Russia  and the May 4 movement of China. The salvoes of the October Revolution  brought the advanced theory of Marxism-Leninism to China. Starting from  the May 4 movement， the Chinese working class began to cut a striking  figure as an advanced social force in the country. At the same time ， a number of advanced intellectuals held high the banner of democracy and  science and opened up a path for disseminating the new ideas and new theories  in China. In 1921 ， the Communist Party of China emerged just as the  times called in the process of applying Marxism-Leninism in the Chinese  workers' movement.
 From then on， the great historical mission of leading the anti- imperialist  and anti-feudal revolutionary struggle， winning national independence  and people's liberation and invigorating the Chinese nation has fallen  upon the shoulders of the Communist Party of China. The Chinese revolution  thus entered a brand new period of development.
 From the Opium War（1840-1842 ） to the founding of the Communist  Party of China， and from the founding of the Party to the present， China  has experienced two completely different periods of 80 years. In the first  80-year period， the feudal rulers surrendered the country's sovereign  rights under humiliating terms， the whole society was thrown into utter  chaos caused by wars， the country became impoverished and weak and the  people lived in hunger and cold. In the second 80-year period ， the Chinese  people， under the leadership of the Communist Party of China ， have  got united and unprecedentedly organized， overcame numerous difficulties  and won one victory after another in their revolutionary struggle. Since  the founding of New China ， the economy and society have developed rapidly ； the country has become increasingly prosperous ； the people's social  status， living standards and cultural and educational level have risen  markedly. The comparison of the two periods of 80 years has made the Chinese  people and all the patriotic forces of the Chinese nation fully aware  that it is precisely the leadership of the Communist Party of China that  has enabled the country to materialize the great historical transformation  from the most miserable circumstances to a situation that promises a bright  future. Without the Communist Party ， there would have been no New China.  With the Communist Party， China has put on an entirely new look. This  is the fundamental and most important conclusion drawn by the Chinese  people from their long years of struggle.
 The memorable days and glorious achievements of the 80 years of our  Party leading the people to fight are like a huge picture scroll unfurled  before the people of the world， meandering yet full of power and grandeur， vigorous yet bright and colorful.
 We have fulfilled the task of new democratic revolution and realized  national independence and the liberation of the people. We founded the  People's Republic of China after defeating the Japanese militarist aggression  and overthrowing the Kuomintang reactionary rule through the Northern  Expedition（1926-1927 ）， the Agrarian Revolutionary War （1927-1937 ）， the War of Resistance Against Japan （1937-1945 ） and China's War of  Liberation（1945-1949 ） . The Chinese have since stood up， and the development  of the Chinese nation has since ushered in a new era.
 We have established a socialist system and realized the most extensive  and most profound social transformation in the Chinese history. We have  creatively materialized the transformation from new democracy to socialism  and established the basic system of socialism in an all-round way ， enabling  this big country in the orient whose population accounts for a quarter  of the world total to enter the socialist society. This is a big leap  in China's social change and historical progress， and also serves as  a powerful support and impetus to the cause of socialism in the world.
 We have created the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics  and started a correct road to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.  Marked by the Third Plenum of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC ， our country has entered a new period of development of the cause of socialism.  Basing ourselves on the long period of socialist construction ， we have  practiced new policies of reform and opening to the outside world and  formulated the basic theory ， line and program of our Party in the primary  stage of socialism after summing up both the internal and external historical  experience and through hard exploration. Even in a situation where world  socialism experienced serious twists and turns and domestic and foreign  situations changed drastically， our Party steadfastly stood its ground  like a firm rock in midstream ， and socialism in China has displayed  its vigor and vitality.
 We have established a state power of people's democratic dictatorship， with the Chinese people being the masters of their own destiny. Though  China is an ancient country with a civilization of more than five thousand  years ， it is only after our Party came to power that the people being  the real masters of their country ， their society and their own destiny  has become a reality. This represents a fundamental change in the social  and political status of the Chinese people. It marks China's realization  of a great leap from centuries-old feudalistic autocratic politics to  people's democratic politics.
 We have built an independent and relatively complete national economic  system， with our economic power and comprehensive national strength enhanced  markedly. It has taken us just a little more than half a century not only  to put an end to the backward state of poverty and blankness characteristic  of the old China， but also set up a modern industrial system with a complete  range of production. The annual gross domestic product（GDP ） has increased  by 56 times since the founding of New China. The strength of our economy， national defense and science and technology has been markedly enhanced.  Our country has edged into the advanced ranks in the world in many areas  of industry ， agriculture， national defense ， science and technology.  The 1.2 billion-plus Chinese people have not only solved the problem of  food and clothing but also secured in general a relatively comfortable  life.
 We have consistently promoted the development of socialist culture  and the cultural life of the people all over the country is getting richer  and more varied. Upholding the guiding role of Marxism， we have educated  the people in patriotism， collectivism and socialism and made vigorous  efforts to promote progress in socialist culture and ideology. We have  persistently carried forward the excellent cultures of all ethnic groups  of the country and actively absorbed what is advanced in other civilizations  in order to make our socialist culture increasingly flourish. The ideological  and ethical standards and the educational ， scientific and cultural qualities  of the people have kept improving ， exhibiting to the world a new mental  outlook of the Chinese people.
 We have thoroughly put an end to the loose-sand state of the old China  and realized a high degree of unification of the country and unparalleled  unity of all ethnic groups. We have abrogated the unequal treaties imposed  upon China by Western powers and all the privileges of imperialism in  the country. The feudalistic segmentation of the country has gone forever  on this land of China. The 56 ethnic groups breathe the same air， share  the same fate and join their hearts as one， evolving a socialist relationship  among all ethnic groups featuring equality， unity and mutual aid. All  political parties and people's organizations unite as one ， help each  other and share weal and woe. All socialist laborers， patriots endorsing  socialism and patriots supporting national reunification have formed the  broadest possible patriotic united front for the reunification and prosperity  of the motherland. The successful return of Hong Kong and Macao to the  motherland has fulfilled the long-cherished wishes of the whole nation.  The exchanges between compatriots on the two sides of the Taiwan Straits  have been increasing. The ultimate resolution to the Taiwan issue and  the accomplishment of the reunification of the motherland are bound to  come true.
 We have forged a people's army under the absolute leadership of the  Party and built a strong national defense. We created a revolutionary  path of encircling the cities from the rural areas and seizing state power  by armed force. With the people's army as the backbone， we relied on  the people and armed them. We persisted in educating the officers and  men in the Party's theory and program and defeated the well-equipped ferocious  domestic and foreign enemies in the prolonged revolutionary wars. The  People's Liberation Army has always upheld the purpose of serving the  people whole-heartedly. It has played a major role in consolidating national  defense ， resisting aggression ， safeguarding the socialist system and  peaceful work of the people ， and taking part in socialist construction  of the country. Our country's national defense has constantly been enhanced ； steady progress has been made in the drive to build a revolutionary， modern and regular army. The People's Liberation Army led by our Party  is the staunch pillar of the people's democratic dictatorship ， a great  wall of steel in defense of the motherland and an important force in socialist  construction.
 We have adhered to an independent foreign policy of peace ， making  important contributions to the lofty cause of world peace and development.  We have thoroughly ended the history of humiliating diplomacy in modern  China and effectively safeguarded state sovereignty ， security and national  dignity. We have actively advocated and safeguarded the Five Principles  of Peaceful Co- existence ， resolutely opposed the hegemonies and power  politics with the strong domineering over the weak. We have upheld principle  and justice ， striving to let justice prevail and safeguarding the legitimate  rights and interests of the vast developing countries ， and pushed the  establishment of a just and reasonable new international political and  economic order. The international standing and influence of socialist  China are growing with each passing day.
 Facts have fully proved that the Communist Party of China is worthy  of a great， glorious and correct Marxist political party and that it  deserves to be the force at the core that leads the Chinese people in  the incessant efforts to break new ground.
 The outstanding achievements in China's revolution， construction  and reform are the results of the joint efforts of the people of all ethnic  groups of the country ， the results of endless and unremitting efforts  made by people with lofty ideals， and also the results of the selfless  devotion of generation upon generation of Chinese Communists. （More）